Figure toy



' June-26, 1945 w. F. RAU

.F IGURE TOY Filed 061:. 20, 1943 Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIGURE TOY Walter F. Ran, Hagerstown, Md. Application October 20, 1943, Serial No. 507,049

2 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and has particular reference to a wheeled figure toy representing correlated animate objects, such as a horse and rider.

An important object of the invention is to so articulate the various body members of each figure with reference to its associated members and those of the other figure that movement of the wheel actuated or motivatingfigure obtains a most realistic effect.

Among other objects of the invention is to obtain the effect of realism throughout a wide range of movement of speed thereof. This is accomplished in part by relative adjustability of certain of the body members together with means providing a variable control for limitin the extent of movement of at least certain of the body members.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an amusing inexpensive and durable toy which may be easily constructed from material -of which there is always an abundance, such as wood, fiberboard, etc.

Various other objects and meritorius features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustrating a pre ferred embodiment of the invention with the figures in an intermediate phase of relative movement;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating a differentphase of relative movement, and

another phase of relative movement. 4

While it will be understood that this invention is not in any way limited to any specific figure or figures, for purposes of illustration I have chosen an equestrian mounted on a bucking or pitching horse. There may be certain minor variations of pivotal arrangement and correlation of the several body members with reference to each other and with reference to those of the other figure which may be more suitable for other representations, but the particular arrangement hereafter described in conjunction with the drawing obtains a remarkably accurate portrayal of an equestrian riding a bucking horse. The scope of configurations, it will be understood, is limited only by certain basic relative positioning and pivoting of the various articulated body members now about to be described in con- Fig. 3 is a similar elevation illustrating still fill junction with the embodiment trative purposes.

The movable support for the figures may comprise a platform ill of any suitable design carried by a centrally disposed rear wheel l2 journaled on axle l4 and front wheels I6 journaled on axles IS. The inner endsof the axles l8 are connected by a crank arm broadly indicated by the numeral 20. In the particular embodiment illustrated the crank arm consists of opposed arms 22 with a bearing shaft 24 extending between their ends. That portion of the platform in immediately above the crank arm is slotted to permit the crank arm to pass through the platform during its rotation as the device is operated.

The crank driven figure or horse comprises a body member 26 to which are pivoted forelegs 2B and hind legs 30. It will be understood that there may be two forelegs and two hind legs, each pair being positioned on opposite sides of the body member 26 or, if action in silhouette only is desired, a single pair of legs will sufi'ice.

The'hind legs 30 are fixedly positioned with reference to supporting platform ID by means of extensions 32 fixedly secured to each side of a stationary member or block 34 secured to the platform. The forelegs 28 are pivotally connected by means of an extension 36 to the bearing shaft 24 of crank arm 20. Thus it will be seen that as the wheel 16 is rotated the crank arm will move the figures forelegs up and down and withthem the forequarters of the figure, the hindquarters pivoting about the fixed legs 30 during this movement. Color demarcations 29 and 3| distinguish the forelegs and hind legs from the extensions integrally associated therewith and denote realistically the pedal extremities of the horse's legs.

For purposes of illustration the equestrian is in the form of a human figure, preferably the form of the well known western bronco buster." This figure, like the crank driven figure, may be provided with two legs, arms, etc., or an embodiment incorporating but a single leg and arm will provide the effect in silhouette. The form illustrated embodies human legs 38 straddling the body of the horse, each of which is pivotally supported on a pin 40 extending through said body. Pivot pin 40 preferably extends through the lower portion of the riders leg at a point spaced from the pedal extremity thereof to thereby leave a depending portion which will swing through a small are between the horses fore and hind quar ters during movement of the rider with reference to the horse.

chosen for illus- The torso 42 of the rider is pivoted between the upper extremities of legs 38 by a pivot pin 44 and lies in the plane of the horses body. This pivot point is at such distance from pivot point 40 that the pivotal connection between the legs 38 and torso 42 describes an arc intersecting the upper contour of the horses body at points located approximately above the fore and hind quarters thereof.

The lower margin or base of the torso 42 is shaped as indicated at 46 and extends below its pivotal connection with the legs 38 a suflicient distance to enable some portion thereof to abut the upper contour or back of the body of the crank driven figure or horse throughout the entire arc of swinging movement permitted pivot point 44. This is not to say that there will be contact between the base of the torso and the upper contour of the horse at all relative ositions of horse and rider. Nevertheless, as the torso swings back and forth about its pivotal connection 44 with legs 38, its limit of movement both forwardly and rearwardly about the connection will always be reached when such abutting contact develops. The upper contour of the horses body has been illustrated as generally arcuate, but regardless of the specific contour thereof the pivot points are so positioned with reference to each other and with reference to the body of the horse that the arc of pivot 44 will intersect as hitherto described.

Pivoted to each side of the upper portion of the torso by means of pivot pin 48 are arms 49, to the end of one of which is pivoted a sombrero 50. Flexible reins 52 are secured to the end of the other arm and to an appropriate portion of the horses head. The reins may be secured by running the same through apertures or through eyelets, or in any other suitable fashion. However, it is of importance that flexible reins be used, inasmuch as the length of the reins may be adjusted to vary considerably the limit to which the torso 42 of the rider may swing backwardly about its pivot 44 as the legs 38 are swinging backwardly about their pivot 40, Such adjustment modifies considerably the action of the rider and adjustment may be made to obtain varying relative motions to suit an individual fancy depending on the extent to which the torso is permitted to swing backwardly about its pivot juncture with r the legs.

The head 54 of the rider is pivoted to the upper portion of the torso by means ofa pivot pin 56 and its forward and backward movement with reference to the torso is limited by the ends of a slot in the upper portion of the torso into which the neck extends and abuts at opposite limits of swinging movement about pivot 56.

The action of the rider is very realistic during the bucking action of the horse. When the wheels l6 are rotated by pushing the toy across a supporting surface by means of handlev 58 attached to the platform, the legs of the rider swing forwardly immediately after the forelegs of the horse have reached their lower limit of movement and begin their upward swing on the crank arm. The torso is thrown forward with. reference to the legs as the crank arm moves upwardly (Fig. 1) and the resulting effect is that of the rider leaning forwardly toward the neck of his steed as its forelegs rise from the ground to thus maintain his equilibrium. This relative position of horse and rider is substantially maintained until the crank arm begins its descent, as is illustrated in Fig. 3.

Immediately after the horses forelegs begin their downward movement on passing the upper limit of crank arm movement, the legs of the rider are thrown backward and as the descent continues the torso swings backward with referand head, all being pivoted to the torso, are, due to inertia, passing through various realistic movementsdependent upon the horses actions and the speed of movement. "The sombrero is whipped back and forth over the animal's haunches and the tension in the reins varies with the relative positions of horse and rider. For some purposes it may be preferable to so position the arms 49 on pivot pin 48 that they are fixedly positioned with reference to one another, although capable of positive adjustment by forcing one arm about the pivot relative to the other, and to provide a friction fit for pin 48 in torso 42. Under these circumstances the arms will move in unison with reference to the torso and the rein-grasping arm may be adjusted with reference to the torso to vary the limit to which the reins permit backward movement of the torso.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated herein, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and for that reason I wish to be limited only within thescope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y

1. In a figure toy the combination of a wheel supported platform and a crank arm driven by the wheel, a crank driven figure having, fore and hind legs and a body pivotally secured to the upper ends of the legs, the lower end of one le being fixed with reference to the platform and the lower end of the other being pivotally secured to the crank arm, and a human figure including a rigid leg and a torso pivotally secured thereto and accordedunrestrained swinging movement thereabout, the lower part of said leg being pivotally secured to the body of the crank driven figure and the torso lying in the same plane as said body, and the torso having back and forth movement along said body limited by spaced points of contact of said torso on said body.

2. In a figure toy the combination of a wheel supported platform and a crank arm driven by the wheel, a crank driven figure having fore and hind legs and a' body pivotally secured to the upper ends of the legs, the lower end of the hind leg being fixed with reference to the platform and the lower end of the'fore legbeing pivotally secured to the crank arm, said pivots and leg lengths being such that the back of the body of said crank'driven figure slopes alternately forward and backward at opposite vertical extremes of the crank position, and a human figure includinga rigid leg and a torso pivotally secured thereto and accorded unrestrained swinging movement thereabout, the lower part of said leg being pivotally secured to the body of the crank driven figure and the torso lying in the same plane as said body, and the'torso having back and forth movement along said body limited by spaced points of contact of said torso on said body.

. a i WALTER F. RAU. 

